Gates: Vehicles blaze new procurement trail

Defense Secretary Gates used a trip to Wisconsin this week to spotlight the military's speedy acquisition and fielding of mine-resistant vehicles for use in Iraq and Afghanistan to drive home how the services must do business.

He demonstrated his support for the vehicle programs Thursday by touring the Oshkosh Corp. plant in Wisconsin where workers assemble mine-resistant all-terrain vehicles, or M-ATVs, that are designed to protect soldiers against the growing threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan.

The agile, off-road vehicles are a newer version of the Mine Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles used in Iraq, and can better handle the often steep Afghan terrain. Both vehicle programs, Gates signaled, mark a significant departure from the slow development cycles typical of most major defense programs.

"The original MRAP program was the first major defense procurement program to go from concept to full-scale industrial production in less than a year since World War II," Gates said.

The Defense Department has sent more than 15,000 MRAPs to Iraq since the first vehicle was fielded less than three years ago and is in the process of sending 6,600 M-ATVS to Afghanistan over the next several months.

Depending on the Obama administration's decision on Afghanistan strategy and U.S. troop levels, Gates left open the possibility of the military buying more of the M-ATVs than planned.

"MRAPs have been proven time and time again to save the lives and limbs of our soldiers and Marines," Gates said. "And I think they're worth every dime the taxpayers are spending on them."

Regardless of how many vehicles the military ultimately buys, Gates said the Defense Department has learned a lot from the experience.

Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter "is making some fairly significant changes in the way we go about major acquisitions with a lot more emphasis on fixed pricing and on better contracts - contracts that put performance awards in the right place in the process," Gates said.

Meanwhile, Gates said the military also needs to make distinctions between how it awards contracts for adapted off-the-shelf technologies - such as MRAPs and M-ATVs - and more cutting-edge gear.

During his trip, Gates thanked Oshkosh workers and reminded them that the vehicles they build are saving the lives of troops in the war zone. He also lauded suppliers who manufacture tires and other parts of the vehicles.

"What is taking place here is an amazing display of industry and dedication to the war effort," he said. "The M-ATV's lighter weight, independent suspension system and greater off-road mobility is well-suited to Afghanistan's rugged terrain and will make a difference in our operations there."